A Detailed Review of Winnebago’s Lithium-Powered Travato 59KL!

This is another really long RV review, but we are reviewing the whole coach as new. And this is not just a review of Winnebago’s lithium Pure3 Energy Management System. (Just to set your expectations…)

When Winnebago announced their first lithium battery-powered system recently, they announced two new models that would be sporting it. The first was the Travato 59GL, which we reviewed recently. The second was it’s sister coach, the Travato 59KL, which we tackle in this video:

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The 59 KL is based on the current 59K, with a few key changes. The biggest, of course, is the lithium battery system. This system, which Winnebago developed in collaboration with Volta, provides capabilities for a coach to run all of its electrical needs without using a generator. The changes required to make that happen were pretty extensive, and that’s why they released this as a new model. Most of the other changes (and I’m thinking mainly of the water tank moving) were follow-on changes that resulted from the lithium add.

There are other changes we show in the video that are particular to the 2019 model year, as opposed to being keyed to the lithium. These changes will be available (mostly as options) on current production models of the Travato. Here, we’re talking about things like the dual-paned acrylic windows, the windshield shade, the locking under-floor storage, the leather seats, and so on.

You can see everything we know about this coach (and our annoying cat) in the video. If we had to sum things up in a few key bullet points, this is how that would look:

What We Really Liked

Just like in the Travato GL, it’s hard not to like the 48 volt, Pure3 lithium power system. It just works. And having lived with a similar system for nearly two years, I can tell you there really aren’t any negatives to it.

All of the other things we liked on the GL: The windshield blind; the dual paned acrylic windows, locking in-floor storage, etc. etc. etc. Just assume I repeated all those things here.

Seat Belts! Travato K owners have been asking for additional seat belts, and now they have them. I wouldn’t recommend them for full-time travel, but they’re there if you need them, and you can hide them away if you don’t. You can look for these in new Travato K models as well.

Storage buckets. While the actual capacity of the two white buckets you see in the videos isn’t all that huge, what I really like about them is that it shows Winnebago’s commitment to give owners all the storage that’s possible. I think even the storage on the floor underneath the wardrobe is bigger, but I’d have to look at old footage to verify that.

And of course, we love the open feeling that you get in the KL. That “non-claustrophobic” feeling is one of the main things that draws people to the Travato K (and KL). Though the window layout has changed this year, it’s still hard to deny that this is an open-feeling coach.

What We Wish Was Different

It may seem odd to put the window layout in both the + and – columns, but I’m doing it. Where the 2019 model has two windows on each side of the living area, the previous versions had single – and larger – windows. I realize this is driven by needing to source a common size for two sets of optional windows, but it would be fantastic if they could get even larger dual-paned windows, and revert to the previous window configuration.

The single analog gauge for the Volta system is certainly easy to understand, and we know that’s what they were going for. But there are some people (like me), who would appreciate being able to get even more data on how their lithium battery system is performing. We think it would be great if they could offer a “detail” level control panel for those who want it. (It doesn’t have to be a physical control panel though… they could broadcast the data to a smartphone app!)

Much like in the Travato GL, we’d like to see Sumo Springs (or another suspension enhancement) added right out of the gate. Although, since our GL review, I did go and measure that battery box. It’s 6.25 inches off the ground. For comparison, our all-wheel-drive Subaru Impreza sits less than six inches off the ground. So this issue may be more one of “mental comfort” than actual chassis clearance.

We’re back now from our test-camp in the Travato 59 GL, so I do owe everyone a write-up on that experience. The Pure3 Energy Management System is the same in each of these coaches, so the findings in that write-up will apply equally to both coaches.

I promise, I’m working on that next. Stef has told me I can’t start any new RV projects until I get that test report done. She can be such a buzzkill…

James is a former rocket scientist, a USA Cycling certified coach, and lifelong fitness buff. When he's not driving the RV, or modifying the RV (or - that one time - doing both at once), you can find him racing bicycles, or building furniture, or making music. In his spare time, he works for a large IT company.

Just a thought on the window sizing in the plusses and minuses…it may have to do something with providing at least SOME “safe” cross-ventilation in the back with the acrylic windows. The big passenger side window is “inoperable” – actually, it’s just very, very hard to operate, intentionally, because the slider will smash into it if it’s open. Only in the vent position does it clear the door. The small rear window doesn’t interfere with the door, so its gets the full slider threatment. And then that window pattern is duplicated on the driver’s side for parts commonality.

This is the biggest downside to the acrylic windows – reduced ventilation on the passenger side from what it could be. On the other hand, since the standard sliders only open halfway, the ventilation issue could be just about a wash.

A thought on solar and storing the van. My wife and I are seriously considering the KL (we love electric vehicles- we both own tesla’s). I have seen you mention that the solar panels are a bit feeble for battery recharging, and I get your point. My use case for solar might be for when the van is in storage. We will certainly be adding an Apple TV to the entertainment system (for streaming from our iPad’s not internet streaming). The Apple TV can can act as a remote HomeKit hub which then adds the possibility on adding remote monitoring to the van (temp/humidity sensors, motion detectors etc.). We would need to add a mobile hotspot for internet access (assuming the storage does not have WiFi).

We would have to leave the inverter on but I am guessing that the solar panels would provide more than enough power for the hotspot, Apple TV and the sensors.

Don’t forget to consider the inverter load when calculating things out. You may also want to check and make sure you can turn *off* the refrigerator in the KL. (We didn’t check that.) If there’s not a switch for it, you would either need to keep it running or pull the fuse. I can’t say for sure, but I suspect a couple hundred watts of solar would keep all that going.

One of the owners of a new KL is posting on the Travato Facebook Group about a problem they discovered with the inverter. I guess they all suffered this problem, presumably the KGs, but maybe not. Wonder why it did not occur during James’ and Steph’s trial run? Part of his post: “In going through and checking out things this week, they discovered that the inverter seemed to always be on, the switch didn’t turn it off. They got in touch with WGO and Volta and found that Volta had configured them this way. The panel can be reconfigured and they changed that following instructions from Volta. Other units will be changed.”

That’s interesting, but it most certainly did NOT occur during our trial. They must have changed the programming between our trial and these first production units. When we had the GL, the inverter would turn on with system start up. That much was automatic and was the same. But we absolutely *could* turn off the inverter rather easily. I believe it was just one button to push. We even commented as much in our write-up on the affair. Unless you’re actively using 120v appliances, we recommend keeping the inverter off. It just saves energy that way.

Hi James, I am wondering if a StowAway Max Cargo Box w Swingaway Frame will fit on the new Travato KL? I ordered one 2 months ago & I ordered a ladder. Some sites want to know about a ladder getting in the way of the box. Would I need to get an extender for the hitch? And I think it has a 2 inch hitch, I know you like to add storage with your custom box & Big trailer..

First off – congratulations on your upcoming new rig! With regards to the StowAway… We’ve never been fans. But a lot of other Travato owners are. I’d suggest heading to the Travato Owners and Wannabes group on Facebook. There are lots of people there who have mounted the StowAway (with and without the ladder). They can tell you in short order what works, what doesn’t, and any other parts you might need. Good Luck!

You mention Sumo Springs in your discussion about ground clearance, do these types of systems help the vehicle get over moderately bumpy dirt roads by either raising the chassis or firming up the ride (or both)? If they raise the chassis, by how much? Any downsides to them?

Thanks so much for the help. Being a former rocket scientist your the perfect guy to help me understand this! ok so basically I can’t just hop in this thing with it frozen and start driving. Let’s say I park in the winter and go into work for a several hours. Then when I leave work I would need to have gone outside switched on the truma or have it timed to switch on… (either off propane or long extension cord run to the office outlet) wait then for the truma to heat the cabin and then start the engine. So basically in the winter if I want to use the van I need to FIRST engage the truma and heat the entire rear of the coach before starting up the coach. But while the truma is running off 110 won’t it be charging the battery also?? I thought that was what we where trying to avoid. what if it’s cold still and charging it cold hurts it? Does this mean I must heat using propane only initially? The goal obviously isn’t to charge or discharge the frozen battery. Seems like that only leaves propane as an initial heating source? I mean why not just put a heating pad on the battery? Along with a battery kill switch. That way you can start the engine and immediately drive off? I’m thinking it would work like this: jump into a frozen van and flip the battery heating pad button AND the battery kill switch which would disengage all charging and discharging to the battery. I would be free to drive off and use the van until the battery reaches warm temps via the pad then I would simply hit the battery kill switch again to begin enabling charging or discharging….(the pad would be powered off the stock van power not the lithium?) I bring this up bc a lot of the time I may not want or need to heat the entire coach to use the van. It looks like I would need to use propane to heat the entire coach every morning before starting the engine or using the lithium battery…???

That pre-heating you describe won’t be necessary if all you want to do is drive the vehicle. The BMS will not allow you to damage the battery if it’s cold out. It will simply shut off the ability to charge the house battery below freezing. It will also shut off the ability to DIScharge the house battery if it’s WAY below freezing. Neither of those will matter to you if all you want to do is drive the van. If you wanted to charge the house battery, then yes, you’d need to make sure the battery was warm enough to accept a charge. Basically, the battery has a self-kill switch to prevent damage. And if that’s not enough for you, there’s always the big button that would just shut down the house battery system.

James, can we get more detailed information regarding safe winter use with these lithium battery packs?? Seems like the water tanks have heating pads but the battery dosnt? Why in the world not? Hypothetically let’s say it’s 9 degrees out and I’m wanting to drive the KL? Since there is no heating pad for battery and you don’t want to charge or discharge the battery’s that cold what does a person do?? I understand that there are “freezing points” with water hoses at some low points that could make dumping an issue in winter but what about the battery. It’s still not clear at all about the battery and winter. Water tanks aside how does one drive the travato kL in the winter. What if I just wanted to drive it to work? Thanks!

If you just wanted to drive it to work, you would use it as a normal vehicle. The two electrical systems are separate. There is more information and discussion on cold weather use in this related post on our website.

Ok so is there a battery kill switch or something? So I could jump into a “frozen” 59KL and immediately start it up and drive it and use the stock van cabin heat to get to work or what ever? Without the van charging or discharging the frozen lithium battery? Then I’m assuming that if I got to a place where I needed to park and start using the frozen lithium battery in the back of the coach How would I know if it’s internal temp is warm enough yet? Would the stock van heat in the front after about an hour heat the cabin enough or would I need to start the propane truma for X amount of time before turning on the lithium system? Is there lithium temp sensors? Also, you wouldnt want to heat truma with 110 initially in a frozen setting bc that 110 from house outlet would also be charging lithium battery? Does that only leave propane?

Similar to your last questions, but yes. There is a kill switch. It’s the big green button. If you shut that off, nothing can or will happen to your house battery. You could drive the van to the south pole and it would be fine. Also, the battery will shut itself down from charging if it gets too cold for that, and it will disable DIScharging if it gets even colder. You don’t have to do anything to manage this. It does it through its BMS.

We often hear from our readers that they feel like they are more knowledgeable than their sales persons. We like hearing it – it means we’re being helpful! The discussion down in the comments is often times enlightening as well, so thanks for the shout out to our readers.

I had previously only considered the Pleasure Way Lexor, primarily because of it’s lithium battery system, but the new ‘L’ Travato’s seem worth considering. One thing I can’t find is info on the solar panels. Just how many panels and Watts are available on the new ‘L’ models.

The previous 100W panel is pretty clearly insufficient and on the 2018’s there’s very little room to add additional panels.

Both of the “L” series Travato models have 200 watts of solar panels on top. I’m pretty sure they are Zamp branded panels. Honestly though, with the batteries that large, and the second alternator that powerful, solar power has been pretty much marginalized on these rigs. It’s such a small charging source compared to the others as to be almost insignificant.

What is the update on the write up about the Pure 3 system?… Anxiously awaiting 🙂 Also, what are your top 3 RV dealers (military friendly) that you recommended I contact about purchasing a 2019 Travato 59KL? I am nervous about the 1 year warranty on Winnebago especially with this new system.

The write-up was posted on the web site on April First (but it wasn’t a joke).You can find that write up behind this link. While Winnebago typically offers a one year warranty on their RVs, it’s worth noting that the Volta system will carry an 8 year warranty. We don’t recommend specific dealers (we try to get along with all of them), so I don’t have any help for you there. Sorry!

1. Will the heating pads mean this is good to go for 4-season travels? I’d love to be able to live in a Travato as a snowboarding base camp (once the time comes to ditch work for good!) It seems like there would still be places vulnerable to cold… 2. When will the Remote Clip Control Box become available for those of us who also need lattes and car vacuuming services?!

Personally, I think I could use it for 4 season camping. But Winnebago won’t advertise it that way. There’s a whole lot of the winter camping thing that depends on you, the end user. So even if the rig is capable, you have to get it right. But yes, I think it could work. Dumping might be an issue, as there are *not* heating pads on the valves. They could potentially freeze shut. That would be the weak point.

And as far as the Remote Clip Control Box… I only made one! You’ll have to fight Stef for it!

We haven’t done a video specifically on winter camping, but we have written a number of posts about it. You can search this site for “winter” in the search box on the upper right. We’ve also written a piece over on the Winnebagolife blog on winter RVing. You can find that one here.

Thanks James/Stef for this new Travato 59KL review. My Question is: Do these new optional front windshield blinds block the dashboard vents for defrosting the windshield? Hard to tell from video. Thx.:)

We didn’t check this specifically, so I don’t have any photos. But I can tell you that in our time driving the GL, we *did* run the defroster and *did not* notice any weirdness from it. So I’m going to assume the vents are clear, but I just don’t have a picture. (Plus, I can’t imagine they spent three years designing the thing – taking great care to work around the airbags – and forgot that there were vents up there. But stranger things have happened…)

Wow, what a great change! I’m loving the low volt autostart system, this seems like a boon for RV’ers with pets! so much less obtrusive than a loud generator droning on and on drawing attention to itself if you have to leave a dog inside..

But man, it always seems like 2 steps forward and 1 step back.. WHY keep the propane cook top? Why not a gasoline fired heater? US manufacturers sure seem determined to keep us from having “1 fuel” coaches for some reason.

Is there any meter to monitor how many hours someone idles their van’s engine when using the 58v alternator?

This would be extremely important for care of your engine, as well as resale, since any future owner would want to know how many hours the gasoline engine was idled, i.e., 100 hrs vs 1,000 hours is a big wear and tear difference on a gasoline engine.

Thank you for the detailed review of the new Travatos! Excellent review! had a few questions about the 59G.

Can the table in front of the bench seat be removed from the wall to allow for an open space in front of the bench seat? I do not need to have the current bench seat function as a second sleeping area, but want more leg room in the bench seat area, to seat two adults comfortably without out using the current table.

Is there a way to remove the table and store it either vertically or horizontally on the wall next to the bench seat?

Would it be possible to remove the table and replace it with a narrower table which has a opposing cantilever pieces that open when needed and then close when more bench seat space is desired? I am thinking about an aftermarket table.

Yes, you can remove the table. It’s not a “remove and put it back” kind of table though. You would need to remove a number of screws to get it out of its place. I’d suggest checking in the Travato Owners and Wannabes group on Facebook. Owners there have done a number of things to the table – including cutting it down, removing it, and replacing with a cantilever table as you describe. Stef and I… we like the big table right where it is.

Lots of differences, but some high points: The Travato have a larger lithium battery, and have more thought put into them for extended season camping. They do require a DC/DC converter to get the 48 volt battery down to 14 volts. It’s based on a gasoline platform. The Coachmen Galleria does not require a DC/DC converter, has that super cool water temperature feature, and has some really impressive cabinetry. But it is not suitable for winter camping. It’s based on a diesel platform.

I should also point out that if you really have to have an induction cooktop, you can buy a portable, and throw it in a drawer. Then you have induction when you want it, and propane if you’re running low on battery. Portable induction cooktops are like 50 bucks. I bet your dealer would throw one in if that were the only thing keeping you on the fence.

Love and appreciate your outstanding reviews, including this one. Question re: self-leveling…can the leveling equipment you and Stef installed on your Travato be installed on the new KL? Assuming so, do you have any sense of how much that might cost (rough ballpark) and whether anyone in CA is familiar with how to do it? We really want that!

I really don’t know if the levelers can be installed in the KL. There are very specific areas underneath that need to be clear for the levelers to install. I did not check that on this coach. You could contact E&P directly and ask them about their dealer network in the USA.

I just recently received a quote from Advanced RV to install their leveling system in a 2019 GL for $7638 if there are NO interferences and it is a straight install. Work must be done in Ohio and will take 2 days.

Impulsive me wants to make a deposit on one today. 60 year old me say’s, “go find one to drive, sit in and find out cost…”. This is the first time 60 year old me has wanted to take this next step. Hurray! I have been doing my homework via YouTube and blogs now for a few years.

I’m getting closer to what I want in a RV. Travato 59KL is at the top.

Thank You for all the time and effort you put into your engaging and informative videos.

Again, a fantastic review. You both do the industry a favor by your reviews. Thank you greatly for your unbiased reviews and keep your friendship with Russ, the Godfather of the Travato. That coach is the greatest B out there. Bar none! Having a 2017 59K with 260 watts solar, I am not sure the L is the ultimate solution yet, but will get there in time. I thought I read that possibly the price for the Lithium may be a $29,000 option. No induction cooktop, acrylic windows that look nice day one but don’t age well over time, diminished tank capacities (a real killer in a B), and windows that are locked shut are tough realities to reconcile. You mentioned “value” of the Travato being your tipping point in going with that coach, and I couldn’t agree more with you. The standard versions of the K and G are superb offerings and no one out there can compete. And it is on the greatest gasoline chassis out there with front wheel drive. There is tremendous value offered. Kudos to Winnebago and Russ and your pressing the envelope with Lance. Not a fan of the generator but will keep our unit as is and not make compromises for a herculean $29,000 (if that is correct) bump.

James and Stef, As with all your posts, I always learn something valuable. And I thank you for that. I’ve been looking at a RT Zion because I loved their volt start system and the Promaster chassis. Thrilled that there is now a Winnebago option (Travato 59KL) that has comparable features and also made in the US. (Canadians, I love products from Canada, but please don’t be offended; Road Trek is no longer Canadian)

My question to you, what about a spare tire? Call me old school, but I’ve had flats over the years that involved the sidewalls and they can’t be fixed with sealant and a pump on the road. Did you see anywhere on the roof or underneath, large enough to mount a spare tire? I know their are all kinds of options for the hitch available, but I’d like to save that for other future options.

Suggest you have a look at the Travato Owners and Wannabes group on Facebook. I don’t personally care to carry a spare, so this is not on our radar. But there are a number of owners on that group who have figured out ways to carry one.

I am in my mid 60’s and have owned several vans over the years. I too am old school and don’t want to get stuck in a rural area with no spare. I too considered the Zion but really like the lay out of the 59 KL.

Check out https://www.aluminess.com/ they have one for the promaster that mounts to the hitch bar and leaves the receiver free.You will have to select right or left side. I plan to use an extension and a bike rack for a e-bike.

Awesome review James and Stefany! Love all the passion, work and detail you put into making these videos. I absolutely LOVE my 2018 Travato 59K…and having said that, I find myself really wanting to upgrade in a year to the KL model. My question would simply be, how well do you think the Volta system would hold up for someone using this full time in the winter months when it is below freezing most of the time. Will the autostart system be able to manage keeping the batteries charged enough for the Truma to keep things warm enough so the batteries could be charged safely? I’d appreciate any thoughts on this James. Keep up the great work my friends! Hope to see you soon!

Randy! I wouldn’t have any concerns about winter operation if you were going to be in the rig full time. I would NOT try to heat full time on electric though. You’d wind up running the engine a lot. You can do it some of the time, but resistance heating isn’t terribly efficient. Just keep it filled up with Propane and you’d be fine.

What an awesome van and your usual comprehensive review. Thanks. Wish they didn’t have the van exhaust right under the Truma vent and the opening awning window especially with the auto start system. And do they use the same attachment system as the Revel for the solar panels? Users have had panels coming loose due to the screws loosening and cracking of those plastic red connectors.

The rack is similar, yes. I don’t know what the root cause of the solar panel issue is, but I know they are aware of it and are looking into it. We had no issues with our solar panels in the time we had the GL test coach.

1.). The first one relates to the new acrylic windows. Are you concerned that acrylic windows overtime can scratch and fade as opposed to regular auto tempered glass? I’ve seen vans in the past use acrylic windows which look horrible after a few years of use.

2.) You mentioned that the 3600W inverter can handle 40amps. I have two 4,0000W Trace Inverters in my class A and each can only handle 33Amps. Which Inverter does Winnebago use? If it does get 40amps, that means you could turn everything on in the van without blowing a fuse which would be great. But I assume if everything is turned on, the amount of hours your ion battery would operate would be reduced significantly from your 6 hour estimate, right?

1. The acrylic windows do require some care. For example, DON’T wash them with one of those car wash brushes… Sometimes if you see an acrylic window at an RV show, and it has swirl marks all over it, you know the dealer personnel had no idea how to care for them. But as long as you follow those few simple rules, you’re fine. Ours is over two years old now, and it looks just fine. 2. I think we might be getting some things confused here. The *DC/DC converter* can handle 40 amps at 14 volts DC. The *inverter* can put out 3600 watts – which is 30 amps at 120 volts AC. But yes, the amount of run time on any one appliance in the van will depend on what else in the van is running along with it. Think of the battery like a fuel tank. Everything electrical uses some.

1. Do you think the extra money for the Lithium Ion battery/technology, is worth the money if you don’t boon-dock that much and the cost for replacement vs. AGM technology?

2. Regarding the Acrylic Windows, if they do have to be replaced for whatever reason, I’m assuming you would have to go to Winnebago vs. any Dodge dealer for their stock windows. So, assuming that you only gain 1.4 R factor for insulation, is the additional cost for these windows worth the added price vs. Dodge dealer stock. Not saying their not, just asking 🙂

3. If you’re in sub-zero weather and are winterized, is there any effect on the Lithium Ion battery since I’m assuming you would be using it to run some of the systems, even if winterized. Just not sure what temperatures Winnebago tested the battery pack at.

1. If you’re going to be plugged in most of the time, it would be hard to justify the extra expense of lithium. 2. Even the “standard” windows in the Travato (besides the cab and rear windows) are added by Winnebago. They’re not Dodge parts. Since I sleep right next to one, I can tell you that yes, it’s worth it. 3. Not sure of your question. Wait for our test report.

Great job. You guys made a detailed rv video interesting and fun. Do you guys have an idea if 1 Can a composting toilet be added? If yes 2 can the black water tank be retrofitted to be used for additional clean water?

1. Yes, absolutely. Several Travato owners (including us) have added composting toilets. Hopefully you’ve seen our video on that. 2. Uhhh. You could use the black tank for extra grey water, if you got a secondary blade valve. That’s fairly common. I would NOT use it for fresh water. I don’t know if all the fittings and connections (and the black tank flush system) that are used in the black tank setup would be fresh water safe.

Auto Start seems like a great option 4 boondocking, can you get AutoStart and the L Batteries in the G series. Also, when u put in ur AC in Lance (Stef did all the heavy lifting) noticed ur RV(carport) did u build it?…from what I could see it looked pretty neat and sturdy. Take Care

Losing 5 gallons is disappointing. I hope the find a way to expand the tanks. Maybe they could add that as an option (expanding the fresh and gray tanks) for people who put in composting toilets. Maybe that’s unlikely, but I can dream.

Great and entertaining as always. Many thanks. Now with these expensive batteries, has there been any thought about making sure they are not stolen? I know catalytic converters in regular cars are sometimes stolen for the metal so it’s something to consider with these batteries. Glad to see the seat belts. While the seat configuration is not great, it can still be useful. And child seats can now be fastened down to bring those grand kids.

Honestly, I don’t think there’s much danger of that. You’d have to either raise the vehicle (not a light beast, for sure), or squirm under 6.25 inches of space, and undo a lot of bolts and screws. Then, a 200 pound battery would fall on you. There’s a fair danger of shock there as well. I’d choose not to worry. Glad you like the seat belts. Many had asked for them.

Well here’s to hoping so. I saw those bolts which made me think it would be pretty easy. Stealing a catalytic converter under a vehicle you’d think would be difficult too, seeing it’s welded on but it happens and is worth a lot less.

On the Volta site, they list all their energy packs as 11″ tall, so even if one could fit under in that 6.25 inches of space and you un-bolted the pack, and you could drop it without injuring yourself, it would not slide out just too tall. Only way to get it out is jack up the T (probably 2 jacks) or put it on a lift.

Just finished watching the show. At the beginning I thought I heard something being said about the charging system automatically turning on when the battery needed charging. Does this mean that the RV engine actually is started remotely so that the converter can power the charging system? How does this affect security and safety? If the vehicle is on can it then be driven by anyone in the vicinity?

There is an auto-start feature, which will start on low state of charge. (Not volts) And yes, it will charge the battery. The auto-start must be specifically armed, so there’s not much of a chance of it surprising you. You would still not be able to drive the vehicle without the key – they’ve got that worked out.

On your Travato 59GL review you point out that the window on the passenger side behind the sliding door is screwed shut. What about this model, the Travato 59KL? Is the large window over the passenger side bed and behind the sliding door able to be opened? Thanks.

Yes. I am certain the one in the sliding door opens, because we opened it. I *believe* the smaller window on the passenger’s side opens as well. It is out of harm’s way. But I did not open it personally. 99% sure it opens though.

Watching the review now, and appreciate the detailed approach you take. I have a question that I have yet seen answered… does the driver’s seat recline? Not looking for a bed, but a few inches would be the difference of me being able to drive it comfortably or not.

Yes, it reclines. How much it would recline may depend on how far back you have it. The further back the seat is, the closer it is to the galley counter. I haven’t heard of too many people who couldn’t get comfortable in one. Really tall folks would probably want to visit a dealer to sit in one first hand before buying though, as with any RV.

I’m 6’4″ and own a ’17K. I slide the seat all the way back and am still able to recline it enough to be fairly comfortable. Would I like another inch of recline? You bet! But we have over 22K on ours now and I comfortably drive 6 – 8 hours a day. As James said, visit the dealer to see for sure. Give yourself time to play with the adjustments though. It takes a little while to find that sweet spot with the manual adjustments.

Been wanting to ask James these questions for a while, so I thought now would be the time:

1) With you being a woodworker and knowing how you like nicely constructed cabinetry, what do you think of Winnebago’s build quality in that regard ? I’m not expecting “fine, solid hardwoods” or dovetail joints or anything, but is it reasonably solid & well-constructed for what it is ?

2) How about the build quality otherwise ? Like the plumbing system, electrical work, insulation, etc…? (I’m liking those dual-pane acrylic windows in that last regard)

3) What’s been your experience owning a Ram Promaster-based RV ? Is the chassis reasonably reliable ? I follow several Youtube RVers who have Promasters and no one has complained too bitterly so far…

1. The cabinets in an RV are constructed using different techniques than what you would see in a home. (Except in the RVs I build in my head. Those things ROCK!) So given that, I’d say Winnebago’s cabinetry is a good value for what you pay for it. I’ve not had any come apart that I wasn’t deliberately trying to take apart. 2. Again, build quality is, in my opinion, pretty good for what you pay. That was a key point in our decision to buy a Travato. We felt that they really nailed it on “value”. Yes, you can get nicer. You might even get better quality. But there’s a point of diminishing returns, and we thought WGO was in the sweet spot. We’ve not had any issues that I didn’t kinda cause myself… 3. No concerns with the ProMaster. We love the way it drives. The width, and front wheel drive make handling a breeze.

Its sad they didn’t come up with a way to “fix” the shower curtain. It looks like it would take longer to set up and take down than it would to actually take a shower (not to mention the fact you would have to let it dry before you could store it, and that it would really encroach on the small space, making it feel a lot smaller). That just seems like a huge pain.

Actually, the people who own it say it’s really not as big of a deal as they thought it would be. Have you gotten on to the Travato Owners and Wannabes group on Facebook? The owners there could probably give you tips. I do know they say the shower curtain dries pretty quick.

As always, well done! And Verrrrry interesting! Might have missed this, but does that big window beside the passenger side bed open? Or is it locked in place because of the slider? Not sure if that was mentioned. Good to see how they’ve adapted to keep the tanks insulated and heated.

Not at all. At least, not the one we have. On full blast, yes, it uses almost as much as an air conditioner. But you only leave it on full blast for a short period of time (it’s really fast). Then, you put it on simmer or some such, and it sips electricity. Winnebago has also put an induction cooktop in the Revel, which doesn’t have lithium batteries as I write this.

AC runs off inverter – which converts 48 volt DC to 120 volt AC. The answer to the “how long” question depends on too many variables to get into here. The short answer is 8700/1410 = roughly six. So approximately 6 hours – potentially more or less depending.

That’s pretty nice. The Euro models make me jealous. So many smart ideas, especially the higher platform bed with garage storage below. Unfortunately, that 2014 rig did not seem to be continued. But I found this smaller, yet equally-smart, rig by the same company.https://youtu.be/yZt5nN99C6k

For now, the 2019 Winnebago Travato 59kl is the best contender for me. Thanks to James and Stef for their great review!

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